Any help would be good

[rapalaman]

Only been fishing for 6 months now. I live on a lake that has alot of grass on the bottom. So I am always getting the grass stuck on the hook when I reel in my crankbait. I do shore fishing cause I don't own a boat. Any suggestions on what I can use? And when is the best time to fish?

[Andrew Coleman]

try spinner baits or buzzbaits, or t-rigged worms, i do shore fishing too and those are pretty much all i use because there are plenty of weeds where i fish also.

[xps94]

shallow diving crank, topwater,worms as he said, ask a local expert..

[SnowBass23]

Welcome!

I have always loved any kind of texas rigged soft plastic.  They usually work great in heavy weeds and are big producers of fish for most people.

As far as the weed goes, an important tip to remember, is you want to get your bait into the thick places, as that is where the fish are.  Trust me, I can feel your pain when you lose a brand new crankbait, but to catch 'em, you have to go where they are.  Also, ask around and see what others are using.  When people know you are new, they usually want to help you out.  

[fishfordollars]

Heed the above advice and you should get bit.

Welcome to the forum.

[wickyman]

They make treble hooks with weed guards, or you can rig them up yourself with some 25lb mono filament line, and some lighter line to tie it on.    That is always a plus about, "do it yourself jobs!".  

[NinjaFishin]

Welcome!

I have always loved any kind of texas rigged soft plastic.  They usually work great in heavy weeds and are big producers of fish for most people  

x2! Texas rigged plastics are as close to weedless as you can get in my opinion. Great producers too!

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Texas rigged worms and rat-l-traps.

[fishing man]

there are two things you can do, one is that when you cast you cast out a fairly shallow diver for your area, but put your rod tip in the water and slowly bring it out as you come closer.

or switch to rattle traps, then just either buzz the top or actually get them snagged and rip them out to try and get some reaction strikes.

and also i have found it really isn't good to cast straight in front of you, cast to the sides, then you get less snagges, and your in the strike zone longer.

[Sam]

1.  Invest in some Eagle Claw or other weedless hooks and use them when fishing plastics.  Eagle Claws are easier to pass your line through than the Gamakatsu's when tying your Palamor Knot.

2.  Use the Number One, 1/0 or 2/0 size weedless hooks for wacky or Texas-rigged Senkos and finesse worms, etc. Use the 4-inch Senkos or the smallest size you can purchase.  Consider fishing your finesse worms without any weight or the lighest weight you can use to be able to cast out and have a slow fall.

And fish with light line, like 4 or 6 pound test on light tackle with a 6 foot or 6 foot, 6-inch medium heavy rod on a spinning set up.  Baitcasters can work well, too, and you can up the line test to 10 to 12 pounds.

Your equipment does not have to be expensive. I use an Ugly Stick and a BPS rod plus an ultra light setup.  After all, it is a pond!

3.  Rig a pink trick worm on a #1 or 1/0 straight shank LIGHT WEIGHT hook and throw it over the grass.

4.  Use other topwaters, such as Pop-Rs, Spook, frogs and buzzbaits over the grass. Any favorite topwater.

5.  Throw a Mann's Minus One over the grass.  Try throwing a small white grub on a 1/64 ounce jig head on light line.  The smaller the better. Or a Roostail but if the grass gets hung up on these two lures then forget them.

6.  Throw a shallow running crankbait, like a Bandit 100, over the grass or a Horny Toad.

7.  Go with Watermealon or Pumpkinseed for plastic colors if all other colors do not produce strikes.

8. Rig up a catfish rig and throw it out to see if there are any catfish in the pond.  Be sure to set the ratchet so you know when they take the bait.

9.  Scale down the sizes of your baits.  The smallest size you can throw will produce the most strikes. If there are bigger bass in the pond then you can start to move up in size.  But the big bass will inhale the smaller baits, too.

10. Bottom lures, like jigs, and treble hook baits can and will pick up the grass and you will be frustrated in removing the grass all the time.  But that is part of fishing so if you use bottom lures be ready to take the time to remove the grass and debris from your hooks and line.

11.  Spinerbaits and Chatterbaits may work.  You may get better results with the smaller size Chatterbait than a spinnerbait.  Suggest using white or white/chartruse with Willow blades unless pond is stained then you may want to go with Colorado blades. Go with black/blue or white/chartruse Chatertbait skirts.

12. Go out and experiment and have fun. And be sure to let us know how you do.

Good luck.

[Sam]

P.S. Best times to fish are early in AM as the sun rises and late in the evening as the sun sets.

Hit them with your buzzbaits and other topwaters and then go to the plastics unless they want a moving presentation.

Pink trick worms are fun to fish as you can watch them move in the water and actually see them disappear when the bass hit them.

Remember, the bass will hit your Spooks and frogs and poppers when they are motionless on the surface after you have moved or popped them so always be ready for a strike.

Wait until you feel the fish's weight on your topwater and set that hook.  Of course, be sure to point your rod at the bait in the water and reel in the slack first.

Then set that hook over your head with a snap that throws you to the ground.  Keep rod tip high and reel fast.

To stop jumping fish, put rod tip in the water as you reel.

Play big fish to wear them out and then lip them to the shore.

Release them as fast as possible.

Be sure to carry a pliers with you at all times as you walk around the pond to help remove hooks.

And be stealthy.  Walk at least 50 feet from the shoreline as you move around from one place to another. The bass can be right at your feet and you will never know it or you will spook them if you move too close to the water's edge.

Be quiet and try not to have your shawdow in the water in front of you.

Look for shade and where the shade meets the sunny water.

Wear sunglasses and sunscreen along with along sleeve shirt and long pants to protect you from the sun.

Fish the pond during the day; before a storm; after a storm; before a cold front; after a cold front; before it rains; after it rains; on a cloudy day; on a blue bird sky day; on a day when you are sick and are not going to school; by yourself; or with a friend.  JUST FISH THE POND.

And last, watch out for bees, wasps and snakes!!! ;D

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

8-)

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

As always you are the master at explaining things to newbies Sam.

[rapalaman]

Thanks alot to all of you for your help. I tried a top water popper and a c-rig. The c-rig seemed to work the best. I have caught 3 bass only weighing about 1-2lbs but it is a start. ;D